Ronald Mayle Jr. headed to southern Iraq with former Charlie Company 1092nd in 2003 to help restore a water plant for Kellogg Brown and Root Incorporated. However, what he didn't know about his time in Iraq could actually kill him.

"We did several engineering missions, wires," said Mayle. "We built buildings, we did personal security, we hauled equipment, things of those natures."

Mayle said during his time at the water plant, orange dust was commonplace. It coated the ground, their uniforms, and the vehicles.

"I remember the Iraqi who was in charge of the oil field told me in broken English that it was dangerous, that I needed to watch not to breathe it in," Mayle recalled. "I tried to get confirmation from the KBR guy - he said it was safe, so I called it as being safe."

More than 5 years passed after he returned from Basra. Then, in January, he received a letter telling him he’d been exposed to hexavalent chromium during the mission.

"It had the consistency of baby powder," he reported. "It floated in the air. You breathed it. Like I said, it got on my hand and it was numb in a couple of minutes."

Today, Mayle has health complications including chemical sensitivity, respiratory problems, and throat cysts.

"Well, considering they knew about it, yeah, it makes me a little angry," he admits. "I mean, they could have told us and we could have taken protective measures."

Mayle says the government is making sure that he and his fellow guardsmen are cared for.

But he doesn't want to get involved in the lawsuit, saying he doesn't think it's worth it to sue a billion dollar company for money.

"The person who decided not to tell us. I would like to see him come on TV and see him say, 'I'm the one who made the decision not to tell the US,'" Mayle asked. "At least an apology would start."

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